Bird seed

Does anyone know of a good birdseed mixture that attracts native birds but doesn't attract house sparrows and starlings? I have read that the cheaper kind is nothing but house sparrow food.

I'm not an expert, but so far I haven't found any wild bird seed mix that doesn't bring on the sparrows. I agree that sparrows do love the cheap mixes. I've read that the sparrows don't do well with the larger sunflower seeds since they are harder for them to crack, but I haven't tried it yet.

Recently I've taken down our hanging feeders and have switched to putting out milo on the ground, hoping to encourage our quail, and hoping the sparrows wouldn't be as attracted to it. Supposedly the sparrows aren't quite as crazy about milo, but to be honest, they still seem to come in large numbers and clean it up pretty quickly. :-(

The only thing I have found is the nyjer seed that has to be in a special feeder (either the nyjer tubes or socks) and they really exclude all birds except for the finches and siskins.

Safflower seed is supposed to discourage starlings, but I haven't tried it.

gram

I have tried using a mixture called 'Cardinal Mix' it is sunflower and saffflower and the song birds like it, but I have less of the undesirable birds...

This message was edited Jul 3, 2006 12:03 AM

The house sparrows in my yard are all over the thistle feeder, eating the thistle (nyger) seed; I know a few others with the same scenario in their backyards.

I think it depends on what kind of thistle feeder you get. Some of them are designed so the birds have to cling rather than perch. Sparrows can't cling to eat. There are also upside down thistle feeders. The goldfinches can hang upside down to feed, so if you want to limit to goldfinches, that's your best choice, but it eliminates the other finches, etc. I have a regular tube feeder and there are tons of sparrows around but they haven't figured a way to get to it. I don't think their beaks fit into the ports.

I'm going to dig out a thistle feeder that I used at our previous home for siskins. I'll test the intelligence of our house sparrows here. (I'm hoping they are not as smart as magpied's house sparrows.) I may also try the cardinal mix mentioned... I do miss having hanging feeders up.

I also saw a hanging feeder at our feed store that was designed to attract orioles, with a space for orange halves, and grape jelly. We see orioles very rarely here so far, but I'm interested in trying anything that may not appeal to house sparrows.

I appreciate this thread. I asked the exact same question at my local feedstore last week, and they just looked at me blankly. It's very helpful to hear what others have tried.

House sparrows can cling. Don't make me have to photograph this :)

I also have the upside down feeder. The goldfinches prefer the cling-on type so I leave both feeders up. The upside down feeder doesn't get much activity. Due to the house sparrows and house finches, I go through a couple cups of thistle seed a day. The lesser goldfinches are worth it to me. The only thing that keep the sparrows off the feeder is *me* being in the yard; the goldfinches will eat even if I'm only 10' away whereas the sparrows aren't comfortable eating in my presence. Hmpfff~! lol

Go get 'em, magpied. I'm going to have to stop believing what I read LOL. But I honestly haven't seen a sparrow of any kind on the nyjer feeder. They don't even eat the seed out of the bottom tray that catches the spills. Maybe the sparrow this far east just aren't very bright? I haven't even seen a house finch at the feeder and I know we have them around, although I haven't seen one lately. You keep making those sparrows uncomfortable! I'm just trying to keep an eye on them so they don't nest on my property if I can help it.

gram

No, please don't devote time to photographing sparrows! They take up enough of our time and energy as it is, cruddy little guys.

I have the same experience with the quail...they will eat while I'm out in the yard (as long as they are comfortably sheltered in the bushes) but the sparrows take off immediately. I go out to throw the milo under the creosote bushes, and often the quail will come up and start pecking. Then I leave, and the sparrows (and dove) descend in a thundering herd. If I was a billionaire I guess I could hire someone to just stand in my yard all day.

Maybe a motorized scarecrow...with a timer to flop the arms every 10 minutes or so...hmmm...

Well low and behold.... :)

Well just look at that house sparrow *clinging* to that thistle feeder... lol~!!!

Yeah, and look at the {look} you got from him LOL. You should send it to all of the bird sites that say sparrows dont 'cling' to eat. What's that on the other side, mag? a house finch?

gram

I'm with you magpied....one reason I have a sparrow trap is because they take over the finch feeders and thistle socks and chase off the finches. I also have the same experience where the house sparrows fly away from me but the goldfinches don't--I guess they know I'm out for them!

In my experience, HOSPs and starlings eat everything, including safflower. I can't put suet out too much because the gangster starlings mob it every time. I have tried the upside down feeders, and I promise, I have seen them hanging from it eating, albeit for a short time, it's enough to clean out the feeder in a day or two when it's 15 to 20 starlings. I had a feeder with a cage to keep big birds from getting in but the cage circumference wasn't large enough and they could stick their necks through.

I strongly suggest the following: http://www.sparrowtraps.net/ You'll be doing the native birds a service as Stelco most effectively explains here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/609184/

Good luck to you escambiaguy,

Maureen

Yup, look at those little clingers, showing up right on cue for you! Here is a link to the thistle feeder that I have (not currently in use in my yard)
http://www.drollyankees.com/products.cfm?ID=28

I am probably grasping at straws, but I’m wondering if this type of feeder is not as easy for the sparrows to cling to as the mesh type. If so, could this possibly explain why magpied and grampapa have such different experiences with thistle feeders and house sparrows…?

I also found this article that mentions cutting the perches (on the Droll Yankee type feeders, I believe) to a shorter length so the sparrows can’t sit on them as easily:
http://wildbirdhabitatstore.com/birding/backyard/wing_tips.htm

Do you think the feeder type could make a difference in sparrow popularity? I guess I just need to go find which moving box that thistle feeder is in and fillerup to see...
Sheri

Also, Maureen, I know in my heart that you're right about the traps being the most effective tool we have. The Stelco thread was very convincing and I'm still looking at those. Just wish they had a "self-disposal" feature after the sparrows were trapped so I didn't have to deal with that part. You know, like a self-cleaning oven...

Yes they can cling. One wall in my garage is unfinished and some sparrows had built a nest over my power box between two studs. I saw the birds actually walking up and down the sides of the studs taking food to the next.

Sheri--I understand completely! I know they can't help what they are but when I look at my feeders and see nothing but HOSPs I do what I believe must be done.

I understand they are declinging in their native Europe--I wish I could box them up and send them back!

Here's the nyjer feeder I have. I just put it up this year, so maybe the HOSPs just haven't figured it out yet. I hope that's not the case. I've seen them land on the fence and the hook that the feeder is hanging from, but not on the feeder..

gram

fyi...it's an Opus select-a-seed feeder. you can change the ports so it can be used for regular seed

oldmudhouse, thanks for the tip on cutting back the perches. if I have a problem, that would be worth a try.

This message was edited Jul 3, 2006 7:52 PM

This message was edited Jul 3, 2006 7:58 PM

What a pretty view your birds have, grampapa. Maybe the sparrows are too distracted by the lovely water to focus on the nyjer seed. I would be.

Yes, Maureen, if you get a shipping address to return the HSOP to Europe let me know. I'll throw some white wing doves in the box too, I'm getting a little tired of them as well.

Another aside...our feed store suggested what they called a "quail block" which was basically a solid block of wild bird seed (heavily milo). It was $10 and lasted about three days. The quail got about about two seeds, the ground squirrels each gained several ounces in weight, and the doves and HOSP had an absolute "block party". I doubt we'll be trying that one again...

Thanks, oldmudhouse. We live in a newer development on a little manmade lake. that's the view out the window of our great room. Here's a shot closer to the lake and you can see the neighbors across...it's not very big.

I have these 3 cattail feeders in my heather garden. They are filled with sunflower seed and I put in some hot pepper suet to deter furry visitors. I haven't seen anything but goldfinches on these feeders either. And they haven't eaten any of the suet, just the sunflower seed.